Facts

If you go

The series culminates with the Ocala Horse Properties International Three-Day Event, which actually spans four days, Thursday through Sunday. The event serves as a qualifier for top-level eventing competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Pan American Games.

Eventing is an equestrian discipline that includes dressage, show jumping and cross-country ridings.

Last year, eventual London Olympic Games participant Karen O'Connor and her mount Mr. Medicott took part in the Ocala event. Mr. Medicott returns this year, but without O'Connor, who suffered a broken back in a riding accident last October, said Karen Eileen, event spokeswoman.

"It's not every day you can see an Olympic athlete compete," Eileen said.

For Peter Gray, a former Olympian and Ocala resident who helped organize the event, the quality of competitors is what makes the event a favorite.

"Our two big competitions this week is the one- and two-star rank. The Olympics is four stars. We're running one and two to get qualified at three stars," Gray said.

Among the competitors scheduled for the event are 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law, two-time team Olympic gold medalist Buck Davidson and the Venezuelan national eventing team.

"This competition will serve as a stepping stone for the Pan American Games in 2015," Gray said.

The more accomplished riders bring horses they are training toward world-class competition.

The competition originated as a Florida Horse Park event in the mid-2000s, before Gray and his partners, through his Equiventures company, took over the event and helped grow the series.

"In last year's Olympics, eventing was the second most-watched sport. It's much more popular in Europe, but we are trying to grow its popularity here," he said.

Gray moved his winter operation to Ocala more than 18 years ago and, with his success, many more eventing coaches and trainers have set up operations in the area.

"You have the weather, you have the terrain and you have all the feed shops and veterinarians right here. There's no better place I have found," Gray said.

The competition, run over four days to accommodate the expected 300 competitors, also is open to entry-level riders. The event is broken into three portions over as many days, with dressage as the first event. Dressage focuses on the physical development and ability of the horse, which is judged through a series of movements at different speeds.

The cross-country test is the most popular among spectators and is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. It tests a horse and rider's ability to deal with different terrain, including water, fixed jumps and varied types of footing, during a time limit.

The final test is jumping, which has the horse jump a series of obstacles while trying to get as few

<p>Former and aspiring Olympians and horses are in Ocala for the fourth and final Ocala Eventing Series at the Florida Horse Park.</p><p>The series culminates with the Ocala Horse Properties International Three-Day Event, which actually spans four days, Thursday through Sunday. The event serves as a qualifier for top-level eventing competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Pan American Games.</p><p>Eventing is an equestrian discipline that includes dressage, show jumping and cross-country ridings.</p><p>Last year, eventual London Olympic Games participant Karen O'Connor and her mount Mr. Medicott took part in the Ocala event. Mr. Medicott returns this year, but without O'Connor, who suffered a broken back in a riding accident last October, said Karen Eileen, event spokeswoman.</p><p>"It's not every day you can see an Olympic athlete compete," Eileen said.</p><p>For Peter Gray, a former Olympian and Ocala resident who helped organize the event, the quality of competitors is what makes the event a favorite.</p><p>"Our two big competitions this week is the one- and two-star rank. The Olympics is four stars. We're running one and two to get qualified at three stars," Gray said.</p><p>Among the competitors scheduled for the event are 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law, two-time team Olympic gold medalist Buck Davidson and the Venezuelan national eventing team.</p><p>"This competition will serve as a stepping stone for the Pan American Games in 2015," Gray said.</p><p>The more accomplished riders bring horses they are training toward world-class competition.</p><p>The competition originated as a Florida Horse Park event in the mid-2000s, before Gray and his partners, through his Equiventures company, took over the event and helped grow the series.</p><p>"In last year's Olympics, eventing was the second most-watched sport. It's much more popular in Europe, but we are trying to grow its popularity here," he said.</p><p>Gray moved his winter operation to Ocala more than 18 years ago and, with his success, many more eventing coaches and trainers have set up operations in the area.</p><p>"You have the weather, you have the terrain and you have all the feed shops and veterinarians right here. There's no better place I have found," Gray said.</p><p>The competition, run over four days to accommodate the expected 300 competitors, also is open to entry-level riders. The event is broken into three portions over as many days, with dressage as the first event. Dressage focuses on the physical development and ability of the horse, which is judged through a series of movements at different speeds.</p><p>The cross-country test is the most popular among spectators and is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. It tests a horse and rider's ability to deal with different terrain, including water, fixed jumps and varied types of footing, during a time limit.</p><p>The final test is jumping, which has the horse jump a series of obstacles while trying to get as few</p>